We’re sorry to have to convey some very sad news. Scott Hann, our Blood Drive Chair, passed away on Saturday, November 23, 2012. We are very grateful to Scott for his service in Paying It Forward. He will always be remembered. more…
New Blood Drive Chair – In the wake of the sad loss of our friend and Blood Drive Chair, Scott Hann, a volunteer has stepped forward to Pay It Forward and take over as chairman of the Society’s blood drives. Welcome, and thanks, to John Hodges, Blood Drive Chair. John has had a rocky start, with two family members in the past two months experiencing traumatic events requiring emergency blood transfusions among many medical treatments. Please do contact him at BloodDriveChair@heinleinsociety.org for help with planning your drive.
 Pay It Forward: Sign up to give blood at a Heinlein Society blood drive or volunteer to help! Email BloodDriveChair@heinleinsociety.org. |
|
Dragon Con Blood Drive:Atlanta, GA, September 2011, had 2,944 donors presenting with 2,546 units collected. Read the full report. Gen Con, Blood Drive:Indianapolis, IN, August 2011, had 79 donors and 61 units collected.
Renovation Blood Drive:Reno, NV, August 2011, Renovation and The Heinlein Society sponsored a blood drive for the Reno-area United Blood Services. Results were less than hoped for, the first day of the convention being a less than advantageous time to hold a blood drive. |
Upcoming Blood Drives:May 24th & 25th: Anime Boston, Boston, MA May 26th: Balticon, Baltimore, MD May 25th-26th: Kublacon, Burlingame, CA Saturday appointment signup. July 13th: Readercon, Burlington, MA August 15th-18th: GenCon, Indianapolis, IN August 29th-September 2nd: WorldCon, LoneStarCon3, San Antonio, TX August 30th-September 2nd: DragonCon, Atlanta, GA Reports on past blood drives welcome! Many thanks to the many volunteers who make this life saving service possible to so many first time donors as well as lifelong repeat donor wh donate nowhere else than our drives. Inquiries about having a blood drive at your con always welcome!
|
Giving blood only takes about an hour; anyone 16 and up, and in good health, can give blood. For more information on the requirements to be a donor, visit the United Blood Services website. Heinlein readers will recall the National Rare Blood Club was an integral part of his novel I Will Fear No Evil and, in an appendix to the novel, he informed his readers that the organization he had written about actually existed and deserved their support. Mr. Heinlein traveled extensively to promote this important cause and frequently donated himself.The Heinlein Society has made blood drives a permanent, ongoing effort, and continues to invite all to participate in this critically important effort. Life-saving blood is always in short supply, and a healthy person may donate every 56 days. According to the Red Cross, each blood donation can save up to three lives. It is a safe and quick procedure, usually taking no more than an hour of one’s time.While walk-ins are welcome, we’d appreciate as many as possible to pre-register.To sign up to give blood at a Heinlein Society blood drive, or to volunteer to help, email: chairman@heinleinsociety.org.Thank you for paying it forward!
About Science Fiction Convention Blood Drives…In 1976, only a few years after recovery from two years of extensive illnesses that prevented his final editing “cuts” of I Will Fear No Evil, Robert Heinlein put his own words into action. With the help of other science fiction devotees, including many well-known authors, he organized a blood drive at MidAmericon, the 34th World Science Fiction Convention. It was the first of many such blood drives and was the start of a tradition.Many local organizations have followed that worthy tradition and hold their own drives in memory of Robert A. Heinlein at local conventions. On Labor Day weekend in 2001 at the Millenium Philcon, the Heinlein Society took up the tradition by organizing our first convention blood drive. Despite being several blocks from the convention center we had an excellent turnout and collected over 60 units of blood. It was a tremendous success. Since that time we have run dozens of convention blood drives—including most of the subsequent Worldcons—and assisted with a number of others, with many more to come. Our goal is to have a blood drive at every convention large enough to support one. Where there is no local organization, we will set the blood drive up. Where there is a local organization willing and able to organize the drive themselves, and there are many, we will offer our help. |
|
